Participants of all ages and backgrounds were motivated to join Canada's largest 10-km race — which was launched to promote health and a sense of community — many saying Sunday's event is or was a first step in leading to a more active life.

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Runners raised more than $150,000 for charity this year: $80,000 from the registration fees will go to the Harry Jerome Classic international track meet and $50,000 will go to The Vancouver Sun's Raise-A-Reader literacy program. Those pledging support for the race were also responsible for raising more than $25,000 for BC Children's Hospital, the B.C. SPCA and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as part of a new initiative introduced this year to mark the event's 30th anniversary.

Vancouver realtor Arthur Gee, 70, said he ran his 11th consecutive Sun Run to raise money for a school in rural China and because he loves the atmosphere and keeping in shape.

He first ran in 2003 after his doctor urged him to lower his cholesterol, but Gee soon became more concerned about having a good time and making others smile.

He stood out on Sunday with a Canadian flag draped over his shoulders and a candy-cane-striped hat like the one made famous by Dr. Seuss's cat.

"The first year I didn't get in a single photo," said a barely sweating Gee after the event. "The second year I ran? No photographs.

"So the third year I came along and ran I said, 'I'm going to wear a stupid hat.' I got 15 photos, so I've been wearing a hat ever since."

Bruce Morley, a 61-year-old veteran runner from the North Shore ("It's a lot of fun, but a lot of pain"), said after competing in dozens of similar events he finds "everything goes like clockwork" at the Sun Run.

"When you're handling 50,000 people it's pretty amazing," said Morley, who ran a 39:30 that was "pretty good for an old guy."

"There's thousands of people, and I don't even like large crowds, but it's just so well done that you can't complain. If you get into a faster group: get up front, then have your fun with it."

Others were seeking competition between family and friends.

Near Gee at the finish line, Jack O'Sullivan was doubled over vomiting after "putting it all in the last 200 metres" yet failing to overtake his friend Clive O'Mahoney.

O'Sullivan and O'Mahoney are childhood pals from Cork, Ireland who moved to Vancouver recently on two-year work visas. The former rugby players said the Sun Run was a great opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful running cities in the world.

Astrid Bonter and her husband Brady Fleugel said the race started out as a friendly jog because she recently gave birth to their child. But things soon began to heat up.

"You do it for the fun of it, but you still time it," Bonter said. "Sometimes that attitude changes when you're halfway through and you think you're going to be fast then you think 'OK maybe I am going to race this."

As Fleugel was taking credit for graciously slowing down to become Bonter's "pacer bunny," she shot back "Don't lie! He was out there, he was racing."

Both agreed the main draw of the event was the "really good energy."

Vancouver Sun Run co-chair Patricia Wu called this year's event a success despite a small dip in registration compared with last year, which saw thousands of people sign up late to run in tribute to those hurt in the Boston Marathon bombings. This year, 45,183 people registered for the run and about 40,000 people participated, down from 48,196 registrants last year.

"We are so proud that we're welcoming of all runners and walkers and we're just challenging people to do their personal best," Wu said.

The top racers in the women's event were first-time Sun Runners Rachel Cliff and Lindsay Carson. Cliff, a 26-year-old UBC master's student, finished in 33 minutes, 14 seconds, beating Carson by 35 seconds. Cliff earned $3,000 for being the first woman to finish and an extra $2,500 as top Canadian female finisher.

Paul Kimugul, a 34-year-old Kenyan, defended his title as the fastest man to run the race Sunday, posting a time of 28 minutes, 59 seconds and taking home $3,000 in first-place prize money. Canadian Dylan Wykes was 12 seconds behind Kimugul, but earned $1,500 for his runner-up finish and another $2,500 for being the first Canadian man to finish.

Briefly hunched over at the finish line, former Canucks star Geoff Courtnall ran as hard as any other participant, but said he was about five minutes off his personal best of 36 minutes.

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Tens of thousands walk, run 'n' roll the Vancouver Sun Run (with video)

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